However, Manchester United opted to part ways with David Moyes and Van Gaal quickly emerged as the favoured candidate before accepting the position.

Since taking charge, the 63-year-old has endured a difficult time that sees the club winless after four matches. An opening day defeat at Old Trafford to Swansea has been followed by two draws. There was also the 4-0 humiliation suffered in the Capital One Cup at the hands of League One side MK Dons.

"No, I don’t regret taking this job," he is quoted as telling reporters. "Yes, it is a massive job I have taken on at Manchester United. I realise that. And the situation is not worse than I thought - I knew what I would find on my plate.

"I could have opted for an easier job. If I had gone to Tottenham, the job would not have been as enormous as here at United.

"I could have easily gone to Spurs. But I chose the biggest challenge of all the jobs in football. And I really wanted to join the number one club in the country, not Tottenham.

"Financially, Tottenham was kind of as attractive as Man United. But, in my eyes, Man United is still the number one club in England, Tottenham really is not."

Van Gaal has been able to spend big in the transfer market this summer, with Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria among those arriving at Old Trafford. The Manchester United manager will be hoping they can make a quick impact and allow him to make United the number one club once again.